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ESG greenwashing and corporate debt financing costs

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  • Peng, Qian
  • Xie, Yang

Abstract

This paper empirically examines the impact of ESG "greenwashing" on corporate bond costs in China's capital market, focusing on non-financial listed companies. The study results indicate that corporate ESG "greenwashing" can lead to negative economic consequences, resulting in an increase in corporate debt financing costs. Further analysis shows that this effect is mainly concentrated in non-state-owned enterprises and small-scale enterprises.

Suggested Citation

  • Peng, Qian & Xie, Yang, 2024. "ESG greenwashing and corporate debt financing costs," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 69(PA).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:69:y:2024:i:pa:s1544612324010420
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2024.106012
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chen, Jun & King, Tao-Hsien Dolly, 2014. "Corporate hedging and the cost of debt," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 221-245.
    2. Hou, Fei & Shen, Huayu & Wang, Ping & Xiong, Hao, 2023. "Signing auditors' cultural background and debt financing costs," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    3. Zhang, Han & Li, Yuan & Xiao, Chenlei & Wang, Xiaoyan, 2024. "Can the deregulation of market access reduce the cost of corporate debt financing: A quasinatural experiment based on the “negative list for market access” pilot project," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    4. Baldi, Francesco & Pandimiglio, Alessandro, 2022. "The role of ESG scoring and greenwashing risk in explaining the yields of green bonds: A conceptual framework and an econometric analysis," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    5. Yu, Ellen Pei-yi & Luu, Bac Van & Chen, Catherine Huirong, 2020. "Greenwashing in environmental, social and governance disclosures," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    6. Guangrui Liu & Hao Qian & Qianqian Wu & Fei Han, 2024. "Research on the masking effect of vertical interlock on ESG greenwashing in the context of sustainable Enterprise development," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(1), pages 196-209, January.
    7. Gigante, Gimede & Manglaviti, Davide, 2022. "The ESG effect on the cost of debt financing: A sharp RD analysis," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    8. Zhang, Dongyang, 2023. "Does green finance really inhibit extreme hypocritical ESG risk? A greenwashing perspective exploration," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
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    Cited by:

    1. Kathan, Manuel C. & Utz, Sebastian & Dorfleitner, Gregor & Eckberg, Jens & Chmel, Lea, 2025. "What you see is not what you get: ESG scores and greenwashing risk," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    2. Gong, Qi & Kong, Zhaoyang & Li, Liang & Dong, Xiucheng & Li, Yang, 2026. "The consequences of hypocrisy: how ESG greenwashing undermines green total factor productivity," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    3. Pi, Tianlei & Jiao, Linke & Zhou, Yuhan & Shi, Jin, 2026. "Biodiversity risk and corporate greenwashing: Evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    4. Deng, Yang & Zhang, Zhaoqin, 2025. "The spillover effects of green bond issuance in peer firms’ financial performance," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 77(PA).
    5. Li, Zhanli & Yang, Zichao, 2025. "ESG rating disagreement and corporate Total Factor Productivity: Inference and prediction," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    6. Cai, Yongbin & Tan, Xinyu & Fang, Wenbin & Nahar, Shamsun & Wang, Feiyang, 2025. "Digital inclusive finance and corporate debt financing: Empirical evidence from China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 494-509.
    7. Xu, Morong & Wang, Yaopeng, 2025. "Beyond the green facade: Evidence of a nonlinear link between greenwashing and financing efficiency," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    8. Tian, Lulu & Song, Xinyang & Du, Meng & Xu, Baochang, 2025. "The disciplinary impact of capital market internationalization on corporate ESG greenwashing: A study of A-shares' inclusion in the MSCI index," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    9. Haiwei Xu, 2026. "Development of the commercial paper market and corporate default risk," Risk Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 28(2), pages 1-27, May.

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